Range



F. H. MOCORMICK May 16, 1939.l

RANGE Filed May 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Maly 16, 1939. F. H. MccoRMlcK RANGE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1935 lvntor: Francis H. McCormick, b9 jya/vuy E. SM

His Attcrneg.

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE man Application May 7, 1935, Serial No. 20,145

`9 Claims.

"l", This invention relates to ranges, more Partcuilarly to electric ranges, and it has for its object the provision of an improved device of this character.

In modern kitchens, it is desirable that the various elements constituting the kitchen equipment, such as the refrigerator, the range, dishwasher, storage cabinets, water heater, etc. have the same general appearance, and that they be positioned adjacent each other and as close to the walls of the kitchen as is possible. Most of this equipment, such as the refrigerator, the cabinets and the dishwasher, may be fitted flush against the walls of the kitchen, but in the case of the range it has been the practice heretofore to space it 3" or 4" from the kitchen wall to provide for, among other things, oven vent openings andalso for the circulation of Ventilating air over the rear surfaces of the range to thermally insulate -it from the Wall.

It is an object ofthis invention to provide an improved range having a Ventilating iiue within the range structure arranged to ventilata the range so that its rear surfaces are maintained sufliciently cool to permit them to be fitted at against the kitchen wall.

In accordance with this invention, the range in one form thereof comprises a substantially rectangular cabinet within which is arranged an oven having its rear wall spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet. Within this space there is provided a Ventilating flue having an opening at its lower end providing for the admission of cooling air and an opening at its upper end providing for the discharge of the air. Also the oven communicates with a flue so that hot air and vaporsin the oven can flow directly into the ue and upwardly therein. Preferably, the dischargeopenings of the cooling and oven Ventilating ues will face forward of the range from the rear wall thereof so as to prevent the vapors and air from contacting the wall vof the kitchen. This obviates the possibility of staining the wall.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an electric range embodying this invention, parts of the range being broken away so as to illustrate certain structural details; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating an electric range of modiiied form aru ranged in accordance with this invention, parts of the range being shown in section so as to illustrate certain detalls of construction.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, this invention has been shown as applied to' an electric range, although it is to be understood that it is applicable also to gas and oil ranges, etc. As shown in Figs. l and 2, the range comprises a substantially rectangular cabinet I0 defined by end walls II, a top wall I2, a rear wall I3, a front wall I4 and a bottom wall I5. The cabinet I0 is supported by a base I6. The base I6 has a front wall Il and a pair oi' side Walls I8. 'Ihe upper and lower ends of these walls are provided with inturned substantially parallel flanges I9.

Within the right-hand side of the cabinet is an oven 20. The oven 2li is defined by a plurality of walls-a rear wall 2|, a bottom wall 22, a top wall 23, and end walls 24. The oven is closed at the front by a door 25. The top wall of the oven is spaced somewhat from the top wall I2 of the cabinet, as shown.

Positioned below the oven in spaced relation with it is a wall 26 dividing the cabinet into upper and lower chambers 21 and 28, the oven 20 being positioned within the upper chamber 21. Within the lower chamber is a storage drawer 28.

The left-hand sideof the upper wall I2 defines an area for receiving a plurality of surface heating units `(not shown) which are controlled by means of switches 29 arranged on a panel 30. Below the switch panel are a pair of storage drawers 3l and 32. It will beunderstood that the oven 20 will be provided with suitable heating elements (not shown) which are controlled by means of a suitable control switch 33 on the switch panel.

Extending across the range at the rear above the top wall is a back splasher 34.

In the rear of the cabinet extending crosswise thereof there is a wall 35 spaced from the rear Wall 2I'of the oven 20, asshown in Fig. 2. The wall 35 is also spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet I3. Within the space between the rear wall 2| of the oven and the wall 35'and also within the spaces between thetop walls I2 and 23 and between the bottom wall 22 and wall 26 there is provided'a suitable heat insulatingy material, such as rock wool. Insulation (not shown) is also provided for the end walls of the oven.

The space between the rear wall of the cabinet I3 and the wall 35 defines a flue 36 which extends crosswise of the range substantially Ythrough its full length and vertically from the wall 2B to the top `wall I2 of the cabinet. At

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the bottom of the flue 36 Within the wall 26 there are provided a plurality of openings 31 providing for the admission of cool Ventilating air into the ue.

The Ventilating air supplied to the flue is admitted to the lower portion of the cabinet. The front wall I1 of the base I6, as shown, is spaced `to the rear of the front wall I4 of the cabinet, so as to provide toe space for the attendant at the front of the range.- The bottom wall I5 of the cabinet and the front wall of the base are provided with openings 38 and 39, respectively, through which the Ventilating air can ow into the base and cabinet. The Ventilating air enter ing the openings 38 flows freely into the bottom chamber 28 `of the cabinet to the openings 31. The air entering the front wall I1 of the base through the openings 39 enters the bottom wall of the cabinet at the rear through a plurality of openings 40. o

The oven 20 communicates with the ue 36 at its upper end to provide for the Ventilation of the oven. As shown, a conduit 4I connects the upper portion of the oven with the Ventilating flue 36. Built into the upper end of the flue are a plurality of walls 42 and 43 defining a conduit 44 through which the vapors and gases from the oven are directed upwardly to a point above the top wall I2 of the range. On the top wall I2 of the range, there is providedla discharge duct 45 with which the conduit 44 communicates. 'I'his duct 45 is provided with a discharge opening 46 directed forwardly across the top of the range.

The bottom of the conduit 44, as shown in Fig. 2, communicates directly with the Ventilating flue 36 so that a portion of the air which flows up through the flue enters the conduit 44 where it mixes with and dilutes the hot air and vapors passing into this conduit from the oven, the mixed air .and gases passing out forwardly of the range through the discharge opening 46.

The back splasher 34, as shown, is provided with a pair of spaced front and rear walls 41 and 48 (Fig. 2) which define a relatively narrow passageway 49 that extends substantially through the width of the back splasher. Spaced apart at the top of the front Wall 41 of the 'back splasher are a pair of openings 58 to provide for the discharge of the Ventilating air that is directed upf Wardly into the passageway 49. If desired, auxiliary openings 5I may be provided in the top wall of the back splasher just above the openings 50 in its front wall.

It is to be understood that the heat dissipated through the rear walls of the oven and also from the under side of the surface units heats the air in the flue 36 and causes a chimney effect flow of air through the Ventilating flue. Also, the flow of hot air and vapors from the oven into the Ventilating conduit assists in inducing a draft in the flue to cause Ventilating air to flow through it. 'I'he air owing in the flue 36 at its upper end divides a portion ofthe air flowing directly up through the conduit 44 where it commingles with the hot air and vapors flowing from the oven 20, while the remainder flows up through the conduit 49 arranged in the back splasher. 'I'he first portion, which mingles with the yhot air and vapors flows out through the discharge opening 46 forwardly of the range, while the latter portion flows through the discharge openings 58 and 5I.

In View of this action of the Ventilating air, the oven is thermally insulated from the rear Wall I3 of the range, whereby the' temperature of the rear wall is maintained so low that the wall can be placed substantially flush with the wall of a kitchen without danger of overheating the kitchen wall. The Ventilating flue 45 which carries the hot air and vapors from the oven is thermally insulated from the rear wall of the cabinet by the auxiliary flue 49 arranged in the back splasher. Moreover, the Ventilating ue 49 in the back splasher completely thermally insulates the heat generated in the top wall I2 by the surface units from the rear wall of the cabinet.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modied form of range embodying this invention. In this case, the range is provided with a rectangular cabinet 52 which is supported in an elevated position upon a plurality of legs 53 and 54 at the front and rear of the cabinet 52. The cabinet 52 rests on a base 55 to which the legs are attached.

Within the cabinet 52 there is provided an oven 56 on one side and with surface units (not shown) arranged on the other side of the top wall of the cabinet. In this case, as before, there is a Vertical wall 51 which is spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet, and also spaced from the rear wall of the oven to provide for an insulating medium. The side, top, bottom and back walls of the oven are covered with insulating material.

The space between the Walls 52 and 51 define a Ventilating flue 58 similar to the Ventilating flue 36 of the rst form. The arrangement of the flue 58 in connection with the oven and the discharge openings is substantially the same as the first form of this invention. Thus, the oven 58 is connected with the Ventilating fiue by means of a conduit 59. This conduit communicates with a conduit 60 which discharges forwardly of the oven through an opening 6I. Arranged back of the conduit 6I, there is a second conduit 62 provided in the back splasher 63 of the range. 'I'his conduit discharges through openings 64 and 65 in the front and top walls of the back splasher.

The Ventilating air for the flue 58 enters the bottom of the flue through openings 66 provided 'in the bottom wall of the cabinet.

The Ventilating air that enters the flue 58 divides atv the top,-a portion entering the ilue 60 where it commingles with the hot air and vapors passing from the oven, while the second portion enters the ue 62. These respective portions'are discharged from the ues through the openings 6I and 64 and 65.

It will be observed that the legs 54 at the rear are mechanically connected to the base 55 of the cabinet by means of detachable screw fastening means 61. The base is provided with openings or apertures 68 receiving the fastening means and so positioned that when the rear legs are attached, as shown, the rear wall of the back splasher and that of the cabinet will be substantially flat against the rear wall 69 of the kitchen. If it is desired to space the range from the rear wall of the kitchen, as has been the practice heretofore, the detachable screw fastening means 61 are removed and the legs 68 adjusted to the rear of their position shown in Fig. 3 so that the rear screw fastening means 61 in this case pass through apertures 10 provided for them in the base of the cabinet, while the forward screw fastening means pass through the apertures 68 in which the rear screw fastening means are directed as in Fig. 3. In other words, the rear legs 54 are adjustable so that the range can be tted against the wall of a kitchen or can be spaced therefrom, as desired.

While I have shown particular embodiments oi' my invention, it will be understood, of course,

that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modications maybe made. and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my-invention.

What I claim as new and desire .to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A range comprising walls defining a substantially rectangular cabinet, 'walls within said cabinet forming a heating chamber spaced from the rear wall of said cabinet, a vertical flue within said space extending substantially through the width of said. heating chamber, a conduit connecting the upper portion of said heating chamber with said flue so that vapors and hot air in said chamber can flow directly into said iiue, said flue having an opening in the lower portion thereof through which air iiows into said ilue upwardly therein to the upper portion thereof, the flow of air in said flue thermally insulating said heating chamber from the rear wall of said cabinet so lthat the temperature of said wall is maintained sufficiently low to permit said wall to be presented iiush with the wall of a room, a conduit in the upper portion of said flue diverting a portion of the air flowing in said flue into the path of the hot air and vapors issuing from said heating chamber, where the air mixes with said hot air and vapors, said conduitw means having a discharge outlet opening toward the front of said range, and a second conduit in the upper portion of said flue arranged to direct the remainder of the air owing in said flue upwardly back of said first flue to thermally insulate it from the back wall of said cabinet, said last named con-A duit having a discharge outlet for said air opening above the discharge outlet of said first conduit.

2. A range comprising walls defining a substantially rectangular cabinet, walls defining anv oven within said cabinet spaced from the rear wall thereof, a ue within said space having openings in its upper and lower ends, those in the lower end opening into the lower portion of said cabinet, a storage drawer within said lower portion below said oven and movable through the front wall of said cabinet, and a base for said cabinet arranged with its front wall spaced to the rear oi the front wall of said cabinet to provide toe space for an attendant at the front of said range, the lower wall of said cabinet above said toe space having openings therein through which said air can now into said cabinet and thence to the lower opening in said flue.

3. A range comprising walls defining a substantially rectangular cabinet, walls defining an oven within said cabinet spaced from the rear wall thereof, a flue within said space having openings in the upper and lower ends thereof, the opening in the lower end opening into the lower portion of said cabinet and the opening at the upper end opening to the front of said range, a conduit between said oven and the upper portion of said nue, a substantially rectangular base for said -cabinet arranged withV its front wall spaced to the rear of the front wall of said cabinet to provide toe space for an attendant at the front of said range, the lower wall of said cabinet above said toe space having openings therein providing for the flow of air into the lower portion of said cabinet and the frontwall of said base and the upper wall thereof having openings therein, the openings in said upper wall communicating with openings'in the rear of the bottomwall of said cabinet, said. openings in said base and said openings at the rear of said bottom wallconstituting auxiliary means for supplying air to said bottom portion of said cabinet.

4. A' range comprising walls defining a cabinet, walls forming an oven within one side ofl said cabinet and spaced from the rear wall thereof, the top wall of said cabinet providing a surface heating unit area at one side of said oven, walls defining a back splasher at the rear of said top wall, and a flue within said space between said oven and said rearwall of said cabinet extending substantially through the complete width of said range and from the bottom of said oven to the top of said back splasher, the front and top walls of said back splasher being provided with .spaced vdischarge openings communicating with said nue, and said flue being provided with air intake openings at the bottom, means con-V necting the upper portion of .said oven with said flue, and means directing hot air and vapors from said oven flowing into said flue through a discharge opening provided for them in the front wall of said backsplasher separate from said iirst named discharge openings, and for directing a portion of the air in said ue into the path of said het Aair and' vapors where it commingles with an dilutes said hot air and vapors. i 1

5. A range comprising Walls defining an oven having a front opening, a ldoor closing said opening, walls forming a cabinet enclosing said oven, a flue arranged vertically of said oven at the rear thereof connected with the upper portion of said oven, into which hot air and vapors in said oven can flow into the upper` portion of said nue, said flue being provided with an opening in the lower portion thereof through which cooling air the nue constituting draft inducing means to cause the cooling air to ow through said ue, and'discharge means at the upper end of said flue directing the discharge of said mixed air and vapors from said flue forwardly of said range from the rear wall of said cabinet.

6. A range comprising walls defining a cabinet. walls forming an oven within one side of said cabinet and spaced from the rear'wall thereof, the top wall of said cabinet providing a surface heating unit area at one side of said oven, walls `defining a back splasher at the rear of said top wall, a flue at the rear of said oven extending from the bottom of said oven to the top ofsaid back splasher, the front of said back splasher being provided with a discharge opening communicating with said iiue, and said flue being provided with an air intake opening at the bottom, means connecting the upper portion of said oven with said flue, andmeans directing hot air and vapors from said oven flowing into said nue through a' discharge opening provided for them in the front wall of said back splasher separate from said first named discharge opening, and for directing a portion of the air in said ue into the path of said hot air and vapors where it com- Nmingles with and dilutes said hot air and vapors.

7. A range comprising an oven, walls forming a cabinet enclosing said oven and dening a flue back of said oven between its rear wall and the 4back wall of said cabinet, the flue extending from the bottom to the top of said oven and from one side to the other thereof, andthe flue having openings in its top and bottom, a conduit beue, and the cooling air maintaining therear wall of the cabinet sumciently cool to permit it to be placed directly against the Wall of a room.

8. A range comprising walls defining a cabinet,l

walls forming an oven within said cabinet spaced from the rear wall thereof, a flue within said space back of said oven having openings in its upper and lower ends through which cooling air can dow to thermally insulate the oven, the opening in the lower end opening into the lower portion of the cabinet, a base for said cabinet arranged with its front wall spaced to the rear of the iront wall of said cabinet to provide toe space for an attendant at the front of the range, the lower wall of said cabinet defining the top of said toe space having an opening therein through which air from the toe space can flow into said cabinet and thence to the lower opening in said flue, and the oven connected with said iiue so that hot air and vapors in the oven can liow into the flue to induce a draft for the cooling air.

9. A range comprising walls defining a cabinet. walls forming an oven within said'cabinet and spaced 'from the rear wall thereof, the top wall of said cabinet providing a surface heating unit area at the side of said oven, walls defining a back splasher at the rear of said top wall extending from one end thereof to the other, and a ue at the rear. of said cabinet below said back splasher extending substantially through the complete width of' said range and upwardly -from the bottom of said oven to said back splasher, said flue having an air intake at the bottom and discharging at the top, and said back splasher being provided with discharge openings directed forwardly of the range and communicating with said discharge of said flue, and a duct connecting the top oi.' said oven with the top of the ue so that hot air and vapors can flow from the oven into the top of the flue to induce a ow of cooling air through the flue.

FRANCIS H. McCORMICK. 

